CONCEPT: Often children have difficulty identifying their feelings and don't realize that in
one day many feelings might be expressed. Helping children learn to identify their feelings and
talking about them enables children to feel comfortable expressing feelings rather than holding
them inside. When children don't feel comfortable expressing their feelings they often choose alcohol
and other drugs to cover the feelings.

ACTIVITY: Have the children sit in a semi-circle. Ask for a volunteer to come forward.
The child whispers a feeling in the teachers ear and turns his back to the group. When the child
turns around he/she should have an expression on his/her face that shows the feeling that was
whispered in the teachers ear. The class then guesses what the feeling is. You may need to provide
some help to the students in picking a feeling or making the facial expression. After the feeling is
identified have the child share a time that he/she felt that feeling. Give other class members an
opportunity to tell about a time they also experienced the feeling. Give each class member an
opportunity to show a feeling. Encourage using a variety of feelings.